Migration routes and adult survival of the critically endangered yellow-breasted bunting Emberiza aureola

Abstract Migratory animals rely on multiple sites during their annual cycles. Deteriorating conditions at any site can have population-level consequences, with long-distance migrants seen as especially susceptible to such changes. Reduced adult survival caused by persecution at non-breeding sites ha...

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Main Authors: Wieland Heim, Yury Anisimov, Marc Bastardot, Batmunkh Davaasuren, Gleb Nakul, Valentina Anisimova, Nyambayar Batbayar, Ilka Beermann, Thiri Dae We Aung, Leo Damrow, Tuvshinjargal Erdenechimeg, Steffen Hahn, Arend Heim, Ramona Julia Heim, Norbert Hölzel, Friederike Kunz, Aleksey Levashkin, Martha Maria Sander, Wangworn Sankamethawee, Alexander Thomas, Johannes Kamp
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-12-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-83138-4
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author Wieland Heim
Yury Anisimov
Marc Bastardot
Batmunkh Davaasuren
Gleb Nakul
Valentina Anisimova
Nyambayar Batbayar
Ilka Beermann
Thiri Dae We Aung
Leo Damrow
Tuvshinjargal Erdenechimeg
Steffen Hahn
Arend Heim
Ramona Julia Heim
Norbert Hölzel
Friederike Kunz
Aleksey Levashkin
Martha Maria Sander
Wangworn Sankamethawee
Alexander Thomas
Johannes Kamp
author_facet Wieland Heim
Yury Anisimov
Marc Bastardot
Batmunkh Davaasuren
Gleb Nakul
Valentina Anisimova
Nyambayar Batbayar
Ilka Beermann
Thiri Dae We Aung
Leo Damrow
Tuvshinjargal Erdenechimeg
Steffen Hahn
Arend Heim
Ramona Julia Heim
Norbert Hölzel
Friederike Kunz
Aleksey Levashkin
Martha Maria Sander
Wangworn Sankamethawee
Alexander Thomas
Johannes Kamp
author_sort Wieland Heim
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Migratory animals rely on multiple sites during their annual cycles. Deteriorating conditions at any site can have population-level consequences, with long-distance migrants seen as especially susceptible to such changes. Reduced adult survival caused by persecution at non-breeding sites has been suggested a major reason for the catastrophic decline of a formerly abundant, long-distance migratory songbird, the Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola. However, it is unknown whether the ongoing extinction of this Eurasian species especially in the west of its range could be related to differences in survival or migration routes. We investigated survival rates of populations from both western and eastern parts of the breeding range and successfully tracked the migration of individuals from two eastern populations with light-level geolocators. We found moderate apparent local survival rates in eastern populations, but observed no returning birds in western populations. Our tracking data highlights (1) a joint migration corridor of eastern populations through eastern China, (2) long autumn stopovers likely used for moult and re-fuelling, and (3) very long occurrences at wintering sites. These areas should be given priority for future conservation measures. We call for an increased monitoring of adult survival and breeding output in multiple populations (including western ones) of this critically endangered species to determine (1) the causes for the observed differences in apparent local survival and (2) whether the current survival rates are sufficient to sustain viable breeding populations.
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spelling doaj-art-a6b3d0cfe61d4151970a8cfa988fb90c2024-12-29T12:23:27ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-12-0114111210.1038/s41598-024-83138-4Migration routes and adult survival of the critically endangered yellow-breasted bunting Emberiza aureolaWieland Heim0Yury AnisimovMarc BastardotBatmunkh Davaasuren1Gleb Nakul2Valentina Anisimova3Nyambayar Batbayar4Ilka Beermann5Thiri Dae We Aung6Leo Damrow7Tuvshinjargal Erdenechimeg8Steffen Hahn9Arend HeimRamona Julia Heim10Norbert Hölzel11Friederike Kunz12Aleksey LevashkinMartha Maria Sander13Wangworn Sankamethawee14Alexander Thomas15Johannes Kamp16Institute for Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of OldenburgWildlife Science and Conservation CenterInstitute of BiologyIrkutsk State UniversityWildlife Science and Conservation CenterInstitute of Landscape Ecology, University of MünsterBiodiversity And Nature Conservation Association (BANCA)Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of MünsterWildlife Science and Conservation CenterSwiss Ornithological InstituteDepartment of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of ZürichInstitute of Landscape Ecology, University of MünsterInstitute of Landscape Ecology, University of MünsterAlfred-Wegener-InstituteDepartment of Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen UniversityWerbeliner See Nature ReserveInstitute of Landscape Ecology, University of MünsterAbstract Migratory animals rely on multiple sites during their annual cycles. Deteriorating conditions at any site can have population-level consequences, with long-distance migrants seen as especially susceptible to such changes. Reduced adult survival caused by persecution at non-breeding sites has been suggested a major reason for the catastrophic decline of a formerly abundant, long-distance migratory songbird, the Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola. However, it is unknown whether the ongoing extinction of this Eurasian species especially in the west of its range could be related to differences in survival or migration routes. We investigated survival rates of populations from both western and eastern parts of the breeding range and successfully tracked the migration of individuals from two eastern populations with light-level geolocators. We found moderate apparent local survival rates in eastern populations, but observed no returning birds in western populations. Our tracking data highlights (1) a joint migration corridor of eastern populations through eastern China, (2) long autumn stopovers likely used for moult and re-fuelling, and (3) very long occurrences at wintering sites. These areas should be given priority for future conservation measures. We call for an increased monitoring of adult survival and breeding output in multiple populations (including western ones) of this critically endangered species to determine (1) the causes for the observed differences in apparent local survival and (2) whether the current survival rates are sufficient to sustain viable breeding populations.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-83138-4ConservationEast Asian flywayGeolocatorReturn rateRingingTracking
spellingShingle Wieland Heim
Yury Anisimov
Marc Bastardot
Batmunkh Davaasuren
Gleb Nakul
Valentina Anisimova
Nyambayar Batbayar
Ilka Beermann
Thiri Dae We Aung
Leo Damrow
Tuvshinjargal Erdenechimeg
Steffen Hahn
Arend Heim
Ramona Julia Heim
Norbert Hölzel
Friederike Kunz
Aleksey Levashkin
Martha Maria Sander
Wangworn Sankamethawee
Alexander Thomas
Johannes Kamp
Migration routes and adult survival of the critically endangered yellow-breasted bunting Emberiza aureola
Scientific Reports
Conservation
East Asian flyway
Geolocator
Return rate
Ringing
Tracking
title Migration routes and adult survival of the critically endangered yellow-breasted bunting Emberiza aureola
title_full Migration routes and adult survival of the critically endangered yellow-breasted bunting Emberiza aureola
title_fullStr Migration routes and adult survival of the critically endangered yellow-breasted bunting Emberiza aureola
title_full_unstemmed Migration routes and adult survival of the critically endangered yellow-breasted bunting Emberiza aureola
title_short Migration routes and adult survival of the critically endangered yellow-breasted bunting Emberiza aureola
title_sort migration routes and adult survival of the critically endangered yellow breasted bunting emberiza aureola
topic Conservation
East Asian flyway
Geolocator
Return rate
Ringing
Tracking
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-83138-4
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